When then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist welcomed President Obama to Florida with a hug and a smile back in 2009, he became arguably the second most hated man by Sunshine State Republicans. We all know who the most hated man was and is.
Before that fateful hug, Crist was all but guaranteed to follow-up his stint as governor, with being a U.S. senator. But from that point forward Crist's political career -- at least as a Republican -- was over. All because, unlike Jan Brewer of Arizona, he welcomed the President of the United States with the common courtesy and respect that comes with being the leader of our nation.
As a result, Florida Republicans kicked Crist to the curb and ended up nominating Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio as their senatorial candidate in 2010 instead of Crist who ended up running against and losing to Rubio as an Independent.
Today, I believe Crist is still an Independent and works for a law firm here in Florida. I always saw Crist as a good man and a centrist. I don't mind admitting that he's one of few Republicans I've ever voted for. And now, he recently penned a great guest editorial published in the Tampa Bay Times that reinforces why I thought and still believe he's worthy of our trust and hopefully another shot at public office.
Anyway, here's an excerpt from Crist's article (http://www.tampabay.com/...):
As Republicans gather in Tampa to nominate Mitt Romney, Americans can expect to hear tales of how President Obama has failed to work with their party or turn the economy around.
But an element of their party has pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they've proven incapable of governing for the people. Look no further than the inclusion of the Akin amendment in the Republican Party platform, which bans abortion, even for rape victims.
The truth is that the party has failed to demonstrate the kind of leadership or seriousness voters deserve.
Pundits looking to reduce something as big as a statewide election to a single photograph have blamed the result of my 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate on my greeting of President Obama. I didn't stand with our president because of what it could mean politically; I did it because uniting to recover from the worst financial crisis of our lifetimes was more important than party affiliation. I stood with our nation's leader because it was right for my state.
President Obama has a strong record of doing what is best for America and Florida, and he built it by spending more time worrying about what his decisions would mean for the people than for his political fortunes. That's what makes him the right leader for our times, and that's why I'm proud to stand with him today.
Bravo to Mr. Crist. That was written like the true non-partisan statesman he is and that America so sorely needs more of. I truly look forward to his speech at the Democratic National Convention.